Rep. Mark Kirk was counseled by the military twice for violating rules that bar members of the armed services from partisan political activities. Kirk is running for President Obama's former Senate seat.

Washington (CNN) – Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois was counseled by the military twice in the last two years for violating rules that bar members of the armed services from partisan political activities, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

Kirk is running for President Obama's former Senate seat. He recently apologized for mischaracterizing portions of his 21-year military career.

In December 2008, as then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich fought accusations that he tried to sell the Senate seat after Obama's election, Kirk "participated in video discussions in the media" while on active duty, according to a statement from Pentagon spokeswoman Maj. April Cunningham.

And in July 2009 Kirk, or a member of his campaign staff, posted a reference on his campaign web site to his Twitter status indicating he was on duty at the National Military Command Center, according to the statement.

"Commander Kirk was counseled about each of his violations after they occurred and signed a statement acknowledging the limitations on his ability to participate in campaign activities while on active duty. He was required to complete this acknowledgment before being allowed to begin active duty in December 2009," the statement said.

Maj. Cunningham's statement references a Defense Department Directive entitled "Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces" as setting the restrictions for active duty personnel.

soundoff(13 Responses)

HEY! Lay OFF, I'm a REPUBLICAN tor God's sake. I can say and do whatever I want, whenever I want, BECAUSE I want.
But I'm sorry you caught me.

June 15, 2010 07:42 pm at 7:42 pm |

tomjon

Just another gop liar that got caught.

June 15, 2010 07:47 pm at 7:47 pm |

Eleanor

Ah shucks, rules are only for the little people anyways...

June 15, 2010 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

Fed Up!

Mark Kirk is becoming as embarassing and destructive to the Illinois Republican Party as Jack Ryan and Alan Keyes were in 2006.

It is time for the Illinois GOP to cut their losses and replace him with Jim Oberweis.

June 15, 2010 08:03 pm at 8:03 pm |

they call me "tater salad"

Yep!..........No surprise here, and the fact that he's an A-typical lying Republican halfwit, phoney is no surprise either!!!......They're all the same!

June 15, 2010 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Pragmatic

When it comes to "rules" and republicans ... they believe they are above the law ... being republicans ....

Look ar Rand Paul and his medical certification: Paul, who has a Bowling Green eye surgery practice, touts his board certification from the National Board of Ophthalmology. The president and owner of this board? Paul. His wife is vice president of the group, and his father-in-law is listed as its secretary.

It was reported that a medical specialties board tied to the American Medical Association doesn't recognize Paul's certification, because his group is not accredited. You don't like the rules? Make up your own "board" of relatives!

June 15, 2010 08:14 pm at 8:14 pm |

This Kirk is NO Capt!

I live in Mark Kirk's district and I am appalled at the two faced public image he has been feeding us over the last 10 years. His campaign portrays him as an eager American ready to take on Congress.....but the truth seems to be he is a self-promoting ambitionist who used the Armed Forces for his OWN benefit, and indeed deliberately broke Armed Forces rules to further his own career. The fact he was reprimanded twice show the deliberateness of his actions.
He then mischaracterized his military service record, again in a self-serving way, again to further his political ambitions.
Now, years later, and with elections approaching, we get these stories and weak apologies as 'misunderstandings', so, again, anything to keep the political career alive.

Mr. Kirk should apologize and resign. However I realize neither of those words seem to be in his arsenal........so hopefully voters will see that all Kirk is running for is.........himself.

June 15, 2010 08:23 pm at 8:23 pm |

GI Joe

But but but but but

He's a republican - things worse than that go on for years in "certain parts of the country" (mostly the south).

He will be applauded by Demented and McSongbird and by the C-Streeters.

June 15, 2010 08:38 pm at 8:38 pm |

John

Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois was counseled by the military twice in the last two years for violating rules that bar members of the armed services from partisan political activities, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday. Why didn't they take action after the first offense? Why don't they take action now? Break the rules, pay the piper, that's what the rest of us have to do – why not Rep. Kirk?

June 15, 2010 08:42 pm at 8:42 pm |

He recently apologized

voters pay attention

rules don't matter to this man, he is willing to do what ever it takes, repeatedly after being admonished, to win

imagine how he will abuse his office once in it, vote for anyone else

June 15, 2010 08:43 pm at 8:43 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

He's a dirt ball who refuses to honor the Military code of ethics.

June 15, 2010 08:48 pm at 8:48 pm |

John

I guess the most telling part of the story is that Kirk was taken to the woodshed twice about engaging in partisan activity while on duty. He'll have a hard time explaining that second offense.